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Nitin

Nitin Narkhede  | Answer  |Ask -

MF, PF Expert - Answered on May 25, 2025

Nitin Narkhede, founder of the Prosperity Lifestyle Hub, is a certified financial advisor with eight years of experience in helping clients design and implement comprehensive financial life plans.
As a mentor, Nitin has trained over 1,000 individuals, many of whom have seen remarkable financial transformations.
Nitin holds various certifications including the Association Of Mutual Funds in India (AMFI), the Insurance Regulatory and Development Authority and accreditations from several insurance and mutual fund aggregators.
He is a mechanical engineer from the J T Mahajan College, Jalgaon, with 34 years of experience of working with MNCs like Skoda Auto India, Volkswagen India and ThyssenKrupp Electrical Steel India.... more
Asked by Anonymous - May 23, 2025
Money

I recently got married. I have a corpus of 25 lacs in MF, 2 lacs in equity, 1 lac in gold and 1.5 in fd. Expenditure - 26k rent, 15k send to parents, 26k Emi for a 17.6 lacs loan, Investment- 18k per month in MF My take home is 1.65 lacs . I want to a buy a flat and a want to take a car around 10 -13 lacs.. Please suggest me how to plan it. Sson i want to plan baby as well

Ans: Dear Friend,
Congratulations on your recent marriage! You have a strong financial foundation and a healthy income.
You're financially stable with a solid income and existing investments. Before buying a flat and car, prioritize building a 3–6 month emergency fund. Limit total EMIs (existing + new) to under 45% of your take-home pay. Consider a flat within ?70L, using ?20L from your corpus and a ?50L loan. Buy the car only after finalizing your home purchase—opt for a 50% down payment and a short loan term. Start a small SIP for future baby-related expenses. You're on the right path—ensure you don't stretch your finances too thin by taking on too much debt at once.
A financial advisor is like a doctor of finance who suggests the required actions and helps you achieve your financial goals. So do not hesitate to consult a Financial Advisor.
Regards, Nitin Narkhede -Founder, Prosperity Lifestyle Hub,
Free webinar https://bit.ly/PLH-Webinar
DISCLAIMER: The content of this post by the expert is the personal view of the rediffGURU. Users are advised to pursue the information provided by the rediffGURU only as a source of information to be as a point of reference and to rely on their own judgement when making a decision.
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Ramalingam

Ramalingam Kalirajan  |10872 Answers  |Ask -

Mutual Funds, Financial Planning Expert - Answered on Jan 23, 2025

Asked by Anonymous - Jan 22, 2025Hindi
Money
Hi i am 28, my would be husband is 29. I earn around 1.5lakhs post tax and he around 1.78 lakhs post tax. And we both receive lumpsum variable yearly bonus (min 2 lakhs combined)We both pay individual rent of 24000 (mumbai). I have an sip of 30000( steping up to 45000 from feb). I have 10 lakhs in fd, 5 lakhsin liquid around 4.8 lakhs in mf, some nominal amount in pf and around 1.5 lakhs in shares. We both want to get married (partly funded by parents) and buy a house and car .we dont have to support our parents financially by gods grace. We have fixed monthly expense of around 20k combined (including eating out /entertaiment). No emi or loans. Sir, could you kindly guide us to help plan for an achieveable budget for home and car. Thank you
Ans: You and your fiancé are in a great position financially. Both have stable incomes and no liabilities. This gives you the flexibility to plan for your future goals effectively. Let’s break down your financial situation and develop a plan for the wedding, home, and car.

Current Income and Expenses
Your combined monthly income is Rs. 3.28 lakhs.

Fixed expenses, including rent, amount to Rs. 72,000 (24,000 each in rent + Rs. 20,000 combined expenses).

This leaves a surplus of Rs. 2.56 lakhs monthly, excluding annual bonuses.

Assets and Investments
Your assets include Rs. 10 lakhs in FDs, Rs. 5 lakhs in liquid funds, Rs. 4.8 lakhs in mutual funds, and Rs. 1.5 lakhs in shares.

Combined, these total Rs. 21.3 lakhs in liquid and semi-liquid investments.

Your SIP of Rs. 30,000 per month (stepping up to Rs. 45,000) is a disciplined approach.

Nominal PF balances will grow over time with compounding.

Financial Goals
Your key goals are:

Planning a wedding.

Buying a house in Mumbai.

Purchasing a car.

We’ll address these goals systematically.

Wedding Budget
If parents are partly funding the wedding, your share can be Rs. 10-12 lakhs.

Use Rs. 5 lakhs from your liquid funds and Rs. 5 lakhs from FDs.

Avoid breaking mutual funds as they are growth-oriented investments.

Ensure to save some emergency funds (at least 6 months’ expenses) after the wedding.

Buying a House
Assessing Your Budget
Mumbai real estate is expensive. For a modest 2 BHK, expect Rs. 1.5-2 crores.

You’ll need a 20% down payment of Rs. 30-40 lakhs.

Your combined bonuses and savings can contribute to this goal over the next 3-4 years.

Avoid using your entire savings for the down payment.

Home Loan Planning
With a combined income of Rs. 3.28 lakhs, you can afford a home loan EMI of Rs. 80,000-1 lakh.

For a 20-year loan, this can support a loan amount of Rs. 1.2-1.4 crores.

Opt for a joint loan to maximise the loan amount and tax benefits.

Building the Down Payment
Increase your SIPs from Rs. 45,000 to Rs. 60,000 after marriage.

Allocate Rs. 25,000-30,000 of your monthly surplus to a conservative hybrid fund or liquid funds.

This can accumulate Rs. 12-15 lakhs in 3-4 years.

Combine this with bonuses and existing FDs to reach the Rs. 30-40 lakhs needed.

Buying a Car
Budget and Timeline
Aim for a mid-range car costing Rs. 10-12 lakhs.

Avoid purchasing immediately after the wedding to manage cash flow.

Save Rs. 3-4 lakhs over 12-18 months for the down payment.

Finance the rest with an affordable EMI of Rs. 10,000-15,000.

Emergency Fund
Post-wedding, maintain at least Rs. 6-8 lakhs in liquid funds for emergencies.

This will cover 6-8 months of expenses and unforeseen costs.

Tax Efficiency
Your SIP investments in equity mutual funds will grow tax-efficiently.

Long-term gains above Rs. 1.25 lakhs are taxed at 12.5%.

Short-term gains are taxed at 20%. Plan withdrawals accordingly to minimise taxes.

Use joint home loan benefits to reduce taxable income.

Investment Strategy
SIP Growth
Stepping up SIPs to Rs. 45,000 and eventually Rs. 60,000 will accelerate wealth creation.

Allocate SIPs to a mix of large-cap, flexicap, and mid-cap funds.

Avoid thematic or sectoral funds for long-term goals.

Avoid Index Funds
Index funds lack flexibility to outperform during volatile markets.

Actively managed funds offer better growth through expert stock selection.

Rebalancing Portfolio
After the wedding, rebalance your portfolio.

Retain 70-80% in equity and 20-30% in debt for long-term growth and stability.

Include a conservative hybrid fund to diversify investments.

Insurance Coverage
Post-marriage, ensure you and your fiancé have adequate life and health insurance.

Opt for term insurance covering 10-12 times your annual income.

Enhance health insurance to Rs. 10-15 lakhs for comprehensive coverage.

Final Insights
You are well-positioned to achieve your goals. With proper planning, you can balance your wedding, home, and car expenses. Stay disciplined in savings and avoid impulsive spending. Regularly review your financial plan with a Certified Financial Planner.

Best Regards,

K. Ramalingam, MBA, CFP,

Chief Financial Planner,

www.holisticinvestment.in
https://www.youtube.com/@HolisticInvestment

..Read more

Nitin

Nitin Narkhede  | Answer  |Ask -

MF, PF Expert - Answered on May 19, 2025

Money
Dear Sir, Me and my wife are 39 years old, our total in hand income from salary is 1.3 lakhs. I have a car loan EMI of 28100, 4 yrs left in tenure. We have personal loan EMI of total of 25k monthly and 4 yrs remaining. We have invested in 3k monthly in PPF and 6k monthly SIP in MF (both of us incuded). We pay rent of 26k per month. Our kid is 2.5 yrs old and we have put him in daycare as we have to go office. Daycare expenses are 9k per month, including his 3 times meal. Petrol expenses are 7k per month (have to take our own car as using public/shared/office transport takes additional 1 hr to an fro from office). Broadband and moble connection together costs us 2.2k per month and Electricity is 1.8k per month. Remaing amount is spent in Groceries+Misc. We dont have any gold/own house/land/parents house or any savings left nor do we have any cash left. We dnt have any insurance for neither of us. Our child is growing and we need money for his education and futue, we need to buy a home for ourself. How to plan for our child's education and future and our retirement and our income and our future.
Ans: Dear Deepankar,
At 39, with a child and heavy EMIs, focus first on stability. Get term insurance (?1 crore each) and family health insurance (?10–15 lakh). Build a 3-month emergency fund by cutting discretionary spends. Consider refinancing loans to reduce monthly EMIs. Pause SIPs temporarily; restart once debts ease. Shift to a more affordable rental if possible. Delay home buying until finances improve. Track every expense and optimize where possible. Later, restart SIPs for your child’s education and your retirement. Discipline and clear priorities now will secure your family's financial future. Consult a financial planner to structure goals and investment strategy effectively.
Regards, Nitin Narkhede -Founder Prosperity Lifestyle Hub,
Free webinar https://bit.ly/PLH-Webinar

..Read more

Ramalingam

Ramalingam Kalirajan  |10872 Answers  |Ask -

Mutual Funds, Financial Planning Expert - Answered on Jul 21, 2025

Money
Hi. I am 42 and have lost job. Have a fully paid 3cr flat with 45k rent and my wife earns 80k monthly. I have a 12year class 7th kid. I have approx 30L in PPF and expecting pf of 20L from previous organization. I have approx 12L fd or account balances and approx 30L invested in stocks directly. I need to pay 40k to my parents monthly, 12k school fees, 10k monthly to maid and other monthly expenses of 25k, 40k of sip which i am planning to stop and 30k of rd which i am planning to discontinue. How do I plan these monthly expenses, 30L for kids graduation in 2030, and 50L for his marriage in 2037 and our next 35yrs of life. 24k emi Pending for 28months and 24k emi Pending for 36 months. Also, my father owns a 350ghaz plot, but we need 3cr to build it. Shall we sell the flat and build this considering 4 built floors would generate approx 2.40L monthly rent. Cost of building is inclusive of 10% last minute overheads. Also there is no legal issue within the family, my father / brother. So 2 floors for myself and 2 for brother. We both presently stay in another parental owned house only and thats sufficient for the next 30- 40 years
Ans: You have been very thoughtful with your finances so far. Your asset base is strong. You have valuable real estate, a decent equity exposure, and disciplined saving habits. Let’s now go step by step and assess how to streamline and plan your finances going forward.

? Assessing Your Current Financial Situation

– You have a fully paid-up flat worth Rs 3 crore.
– It generates a monthly rent of Rs 45,000.
– Your wife earns Rs 80,000 per month.
– You have Rs 30 lakh in PPF.
– PF withdrawal from your last job is expected to be Rs 20 lakh.
– Cash and FDs amount to Rs 12 lakh.
– Stocks directly held are valued at Rs 30 lakh.
– You have two EMIs of Rs 24,000 each pending for 28 and 36 months.
– You spend Rs 40,000 on your parents, Rs 12,000 on your child’s school, and Rs 10,000 on a maid.
– Monthly household expenses are Rs 25,000.
– You were contributing Rs 40,000 in SIP and Rs 30,000 in RD.

This overall financial snapshot shows you are asset-rich. But income pressure is visible after job loss.

? Monthly Cash Flow Analysis

– Current family income = Rs 80,000 (wife) + Rs 45,000 (rent) = Rs 1.25 lakh.
– Fixed obligations: Rs 24,000 x 2 EMIs = Rs 48,000.
– Parental support = Rs 40,000.
– School and maid = Rs 22,000.
– Household = Rs 25,000.
– Total monthly outgo = Rs 1.35 lakh.

So, your monthly expenses exceed your current income by Rs 10,000. This is excluding SIPs and RDs.

It’s good that you are pausing SIPs and RDs now. You are making the right move temporarily. You must prioritise stability for the next 6 to 12 months.

? Managing Current Expenses Without Active Job

– Use part of your Rs 12 lakh FD/cash reserves to fill any monthly gaps.
– Pause all discretionary spends like holidays or high-end purchases.
– Avoid starting any new SIPs or investments till cash flow is secure.
– Do not stop EMIs. Protect your credit score.
– Even with rent and wife’s salary, draw around Rs 10,000 to Rs 20,000 monthly from reserves.

Your reserves can support you for 12 to 18 months comfortably. But getting back to a stable income path must be a priority.

? Goal 1: Rs 30 Lakh for Kid’s Graduation by 2030

– You have 5 years till your child’s graduation.
– Equity exposure is fine, but direct stocks carry high risk.
– Switch a portion of your direct equity to mutual funds.
– Choose diversified equity mutual funds through a MFD with CFP credential.
– Regular plans have built-in advisor guidance. Direct funds lack this support.
– An MFD-backed regular plan ensures active management and handholding.
– SIPs in regular funds can be resumed after 6-9 months when cash flow improves.
– Track this goal every year and adjust investment as per market movement.

Stay disciplined but flexible in execution.

? Goal 2: Rs 50 Lakh for Marriage in 2037

– You have 12 years for this goal.
– Long horizon allows equity investing for better returns.
– Shift your long-term stock holding into equity mutual funds gradually.
– Avoid putting this in real estate.
– Use a mix of large-cap and flexi-cap mutual funds via MFD-backed route.
– Equity mutual funds have professional fund managers with deep market research.
– Direct stock investing lacks such built-in research and discipline.
– Invest systematically to avoid timing the market.

Also, review progress every year. Adjust amounts if markets overperform or underperform.

? Building the Plot vs Keeping the Flat

– Flat gives you Rs 45,000 rent monthly. This is low yield on Rs 3 crore.
– The plot can give Rs 2.4 lakh rent post construction. Higher income is tempting.
– However, building cost is Rs 3 crore. That is a huge capital deployment.
– At present, job loss creates income uncertainty. Avoid large capital commitments now.
– Construction brings risks – delays, cost overruns, stress.
– You are already residing in a parental house. You don’t need a second big house now.
– Even if you do sell and construct, rental gain takes time to come in full.
– Instead of selling flat now, you can wait and explore later when income is secure.

There’s no urgency. Your current flat gives rental income and can be retained till things stabilise.

? Retirement Planning for Next 35 Years

– You are 42 now. Life expectancy of 85+ years means 40+ years of planning.
– Job loss does affect accumulation phase. But you still have 10-15 years to save.
– PPF of Rs 30 lakh is a good base.
– Future PF withdrawal of Rs 20 lakh adds to the cushion.
– Shift FD money and equity holdings to mutual funds after 6-12 months.
– Begin SIPs again in balanced and large-cap funds, preferably regular plans.
– Keep investing steadily till age 58-60.

A Certified Financial Planner can help create a goal-wise retirement strategy tailored to your needs.

? About Existing Equity Stock Holdings

– Direct equity needs knowledge, tracking, and discipline.
– Common mistake: holding poor stocks for long or selling good ones early.
– A Certified Financial Planner can help review your stocks and exit non-performers.
– Gradually transfer holdings to mutual funds where professional teams manage it better.
– Diversification, asset allocation, and rebalancing are better in mutual funds.

Also, direct equity attracts high volatility. That may harm your long-term stability if unmanaged.

? Loans and EMIs: What Should Be Done

– Your two EMIs of Rs 24,000 each will run for 28 and 36 more months.
– Continue paying on time. No pre-closure now. Liquidity is more important.
– Don’t divert large lump sums to reduce EMIs yet.
– If job income resumes strongly, you may prepay selectively later.
– Until then, maintain EMI discipline and keep credit intact.

? Parental Plot: When to Consider Construction

– No need to rush now.
– Use flat rent and wife's salary to manage expenses.
– The plot has long-term potential.
– Construction cost of Rs 3 crore is too heavy today.
– Once career stabilises or a lump sum comes (like inheritance or bonus), re-evaluate.
– Since family terms are good, the plot can be built anytime later.
– For now, keep paperwork, permissions, and joint ownership clarified legally.

Construction can wait. Liquidity can’t.

? Child’s School Fees and Future Education

– Present fees are Rs 12,000 monthly. It is affordable.
– Don’t compromise on child’s school quality.
– Graduation fund of Rs 30 lakh should be grown safely over next 5 years.
– Use low-volatility mutual funds once cash flow supports new SIPs.
– Future education loans can also be considered partially if needed.

Also, track your child’s interest and possible career choices from class 9 onwards.

? Insurance and Emergency Corpus

– Ensure your term life insurance is sufficient. If not, buy a term policy.
– Medical insurance for family must be active.
– Emergency funds = 6 to 9 months of expenses. Your FD balance is fine for now.
– Don’t use PPF for emergency. Keep it for long-term corpus.

Review your insurance cover every 2 years.

? Tax Planning Suggestions

– Use PPF and other Section 80C options wisely.
– Avoid unnecessary endowment or ULIP policies.
– If holding such policies, check surrender value and shift to mutual funds.
– Use regular mutual funds via MFDs to get full guidance on tax harvesting.
– Mutual fund redemptions have tax implications:

LTCG above Rs 1.25 lakh taxed at 12.5%.

STCG taxed at 20%.

For debt mutual funds, gains are taxed as per slab.

Keep capital gains tracking clear for smooth returns filing.

? If You Find a Job or Start Consulting

– Rework your entire plan with a CFP once income resumes.
– Resume SIPs slowly after monthly surplus crosses Rs 25,000.
– Use bonus or lumpsums for goal-based lumpsum investing.
– Explore new career paths, consulting, teaching or freelancing if job search takes time.

Keep learning. Stay active. Your career is not over.

? Final Insights

– You are not in a crisis. You are in a transition.
– You have assets. You have no major liability burden.
– Your family is supportive. Rent and wife’s salary give safety net.
– Pause, reassess, and resume once cash flow improves.
– Avoid large capital expenses now like construction.
– Don’t take high risks in stock markets.
– Stick with mutual funds via experienced MFDs and CFPs.
– Prioritise kid’s education, parental support, and health insurance.
– Keep updating your financial roadmap every year.
– Patience, clarity, and slow steps will help you emerge stronger.

Best Regards,
K. Ramalingam, MBA, CFP,
Chief Financial Planner,
www.holisticinvestment.in
https://www.youtube.com/@HolisticInvestment

..Read more

Reetika

Reetika Sharma  |417 Answers  |Ask -

Financial Planner, MF and Insurance Expert - Answered on Oct 09, 2025

Latest Questions
Ramalingam

Ramalingam Kalirajan  |10872 Answers  |Ask -

Mutual Funds, Financial Planning Expert - Answered on Dec 06, 2025

Asked by Anonymous - Dec 06, 2025Hindi
Money
Dear Sir/Ma'am, I need some guidance and advice for continuing my mutual fund investments. I am a 36 year old male, married, no kids yet and no debts/liabilities as such. I have couple of savings in PPF, NPS, Emergency funds and long term investing in direct stocks. I recently started below mentioned SIPs for long term to grow wealth. Request you to review the same and let me know if I should continue with the SIPs or need to rationalize. Kindly also advice on how to invest a lumpsum amount of around 6lacs. invesco small cap 2000 motilal oswal midcap 2700 parag parikh flexicap 3000 HDFC flexicap 3100 ICICI prudential largecap 3100 HDFC large and midcap 3100 HDFC gold etf FOF 2000 ICICI Pru equity and debt fund 3000 HDFC balanced advantage fund 3000 nippon india silver etf FOF 2000
Ans: You already built a solid foundation. Many investors delay planning. But you started early at 36. That gives you a strong advantage. You have no liabilities. You have long term thinking. You also have diversified savings like PPF, NPS, Emergency funds and direct stocks. That shows clarity and discipline. This approach builds wealth with less stress over time.

You also started systematic investments in equity funds. That is a positive step. Your selection covers multiple categories like large cap, mid cap, small cap, flexi cap, hybrid and precious metals. So the intent is right. You are trying to create a broad portfolio. That gives balance.

» Your Portfolio Composition Understanding
Your current SIP list includes:

Small cap

Mid cap

Flexi cap

Large cap

Large and mid cap

Hybrid category

Gold and Silver FoF

Equity and Debt allocation fund

Dynamic hybrid fund

This shows you are trying to cover many segments. But too many categories can create overlap. When there is overlap, you get confusion during review. It also makes portfolio discipline difficult. You may think you are diversified. But the holdings inside may repeat. That reduces efficiency.

Your portfolio now looks like:

Equity dominant

Hybrid for stability

Metals for hedge

So the broad direction is fine. But simplifying helps in long-term habit building.

» Fund Category Duplication
You hold:

Two flexi cap funds

One large and mid cap fund

One pure large cap fund

One mid cap fund

One small cap fund

Flexi cap funds already invest across large, mid, small. Then large and mid also overlaps. So the large cap exposure gets repeated. That may not add extra benefit. But it increases monitoring complexity.

So I suggest rationalising. Keep one fund per category in core. Keep satellite space for only high conviction.

» Core and Satellite Strategy
A structured portfolio follows core and satellite method.

Core portfolio should be:

Simple

Long term

Stable

Satellite portfolio can be:

High growth

Concentrated

Based on your thinking level, you can structure like this:

Core funds:

One large cap

One flexi cap

One hybrid equity and debt fund

One balanced advantage type fund

Satellite funds:

One mid cap

One small cap

One metal allocation if needed

This division gives clarity. You can continue SIPs with review every year. No need to stop and restart often. That reduces behavioural mistakes.

» Your Current SIP List Review with Suggested Streamlining

You can consider continuing:

One flexi cap

One large cap

One mid cap

One small cap

One balanced advantage

One equity and debt hybrid

You may reconsider keeping both flexi caps and both gold silver funds. One of each category is enough. Because too many funds do not increase returns. It complicates tracking.

Precious metal funds should not be more than 5 to 7 percent in your portfolio. This is because metals are hedge assets. They do not create compounding like equity. They act as protection during cycles. So keep them small.

» How to Use the Rs 6 Lakh Lump Sum
You asked about lump sum investing. This is important. Lump sum should not go fully into equity at one time. Markets move in cycles. So use a staggered method. You can invest the lump sum through STP (Systematic Transfer Plan). You can keep the amount in a liquid fund and set STP toward your chosen growth funds over 6 to 12 months.

This reduces timing risk. It also creates discipline. So your Rs 6 lakh can be deployed gradually. You may use 50% towards core equity funds and 30% toward satellite growth category. The remaining 20% can go into hybrid category. This gives balance and comfort.

» Regular Funds Over Direct Funds
One important point many investors miss. Direct funds look cheaper. But they demand deep knowledge, discipline, and behaviour control. Most investors lose more through emotional selling and wrong timing than they save on expense ratio.

With regular funds through a Mutual Fund Distributor with Certified Financial Planner qualification, you get guidance, structure and correction. The advisory discipline protects you during market extremes. That is more valuable than a small saving in expense ratio.

A personalised planner also tracks portfolio drift, rebalancing need and category shifts. So regular fund investing gives long-term benefit and behaviour coaching.

» Actively Managed Funds over Index or ETF
Some investors choose index funds or ETF thinking they are simple and cheap. But they ignore drawbacks.

Index funds or ETF will not avoid weak companies in the index. They will invest whether the company grows or struggles. There is no fund manager decision making. So when markets are at peak, index funds continue aggressive exposure. In downturns also they fall fully. There is no cushion.

Actively managed funds work with research teams. They can avoid bad sectors. They can shift allocation based on market and economy. Over long term, this gives better alpha and stability. So continuing with actively managed funds creates better wealth compounding.

» SIP Continuation Strategy
Once the rationalisation is done, continue SIPs every month without interruption. Pause and restart behaviour damages compounding power. SIP works best when you go through all market cycles. You benefit more during corrections because cost averaging works.

So continue SIP amount. You can also review SIP increase every year based on income. Increasing SIP by 10 to 15 percent every year helps you reach large corpus faster.

» Asset Allocation Based Approach
One key point in wealth creation is having the right asset mix. Equity gives growth. Hybrid gives balance. Metals give hedge. Debt gives safety. Your asset allocation should stay aligned to your risk profile and time horizon.

Since you are young and have long term horizon, higher equity allocation is fine. But as time moves, rebalancing is important. Rebalancing protects gains and restores allocation.

So review your asset allocation every year or during major life events like child birth, home buying or retirement planning.

» Behaviour Management
Many portfolios fail not due to bad funds. They fail due to bad decisions. Selling during correction. Stopping SIP when market falls. Chasing past return performance. These mistakes reduce wealth.

Your discipline so far is good. Continue to stay patient during volatility. Equity rewards patience and time.

» Financial Goals Clarity
Since you have no children now, you can decide your long-term goals. Typical goals may include:

Retirement

Future child education

Dream lifestyle purchase

Health care reserves

When goals are clear, investment purpose becomes stronger. So you can map each fund category to goal horizon. Short-term goals should not use equity. Long-term goals should use equity with hybrid support.

» Role of Review and Monitoring
Review once in a year is enough. Frequent review can create anxiety. Annual review helps check:

Fund performance

Expense drift

Category relevance

Allocation balance

Then adjust only if needed. This progress helps you stay confident and aligned.

» Taxation Awareness
Equity mutual funds taxation rules are:

Short term (below one year holding) taxable at 20 percent

Long term (above one year holding) gains above Rs 1.25 lakh taxable at 12.5 percent

Debt mutual funds are taxed as per your income slab.

So always hold equity funds for long term. That reduces tax impact and gives better growth.

» SIP Increase Plan
You can create a simple plan to increase SIP over time. For example:

Increase SIP at every salary increment

Increase SIP during bonus time

Use rewards or extra income for investing

This habit accelerates wealth. So by the time you reach 45 to 50 years, your investments could reach a strong level.

» Insurance and Protection
Before investing large, ensure you have term insurance and health insurance. If not already done, it is important. Insurance protects wealth. Without insurance, even a small medical event can impact investment plan. So review this part also. Since you are married, cover both.

» Wealth Behaviour Mindset
You are already disciplined. Just keep these simple principles:

Invest without stopping

Review once a year

Avoid funds overlap

Follow asset allocation

Avoid reacting to media noise

This helps you reach long term milestones.

» Finally
You are on the right track. Only fine tuning and simplification is needed. Your discipline is visible. Your portfolio will grow well with structure, patience and periodic review. Use the Rs 6 lakh with STP approach. And continue SIP with rationalised categories.

With time and consistency, wealth creation becomes effortless and peaceful. You just need to stay committed and avoid overthinking during market movements.

Best Regards,
K. Ramalingam, MBA, CFP,

Chief Financial Planner,

www.holisticinvestment.in

https://www.youtube.com/@HolisticInvestment

...Read more

Dr Dipankar

Dr Dipankar Dutta  |1837 Answers  |Ask -

Tech Careers and Skill Development Expert - Answered on Dec 05, 2025

Career
Dear Sir, I did my BTech from a normal engineering college not very famous. The teaching was not great and hence i did not study well. I tried my best to learn coding including all the technologies like html,css,javascript,react js,dba,php because i wanted to be a web developer But nothing seem to enter my head except html and css. I don't understand a language which has more complexities. Is it because of my lack of experience or not devoting enough time. I am not sure. I did many courses online and tried to do diplomas also abroad which i passed somehow. I recently joined android development course because i like apps but the teaching was so fast that i could not memorize anything. There was no time to even take notes down. During the course i did assignments and understood the code because i have to pass but after the course is over i tend to forget everything. I attempted a lot of interviews. Some of them i even got but could not perform well so they let me go. Now due to the AI booming and job markets in a bad shape i am re-thinking whether to keep studying or whether its just time waste. Since 3 years i am doing labour type of jobs which does not yield anything to me for survival and to pay my expenses. I have the quest to learn everything but as soon as i sit in front of the computer i listen to music or read something else. What should i do to stay more focused? What should i do to make myself believe confident. Is there still scope of IT in todays world? Kindly advise.
Ans: Your story does not show failure.
It shows persistence, effort, and desire to improve.

Most people give up.
You didn’t.
That means you will succeed — but with the right method, not the old one.

...Read more

DISCLAIMER: The content of this post by the expert is the personal view of the rediffGURU. Investment in securities market are subject to market risks. Read all the related document carefully before investing. The securities quoted are for illustration only and are not recommendatory. Users are advised to pursue the information provided by the rediffGURU only as a source of information and as a point of reference and to rely on their own judgement when making a decision. RediffGURUS is an intermediary as per India's Information Technology Act.

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